What is the Relationship between Moral Leadership and the Bahá'í Faith?
The conceptual framework of Moral Leadership was developed to introduce the general public to leadership concepts inspired by the Bahá'í Faith. During the last three decades, it has been widely used in university and high school settings and in workshops with non-governmental organizations, especially in the field of public health and youth empowerment. In six continents it has proven its effectiveness as a means of sharing concepts inspired by the Bahá'í Teachings with a wide range of individuals and organizations who are sincerely seeking solutions to the serious problems afflicting the world, inspiring them and giving them tools to advance in their own process of personal transformation and to contribute more effectively to social transformation.
Although the original book makes no explicit reference to the Bahá'í Faith, Bahá'ís around the world have responded enthusiastically to the approach. Taking into account the interest of the Bahá'í community, this introductory book has a threefold purpose:
1) Explicitly present moral leadership (now better known in English as Transformative Leadership) to Bahá'ís, including numerous quotations from the Bahá'í Writings to support the approach, as well as direct references to Bahá'í institutions and activities, pointing out how we can apply in these the elements and capabilities of moral leadership.
2) Present the main concepts of moral leadership in summary form, suitable for study with young people, or for anyone who wishes to quickly familiarize themselves with the concepts.
3) Include exercises and activities to help in the understanding and application of each topic.
Moral Leadership motivates universal participation, facilitating the shift from passive morality to active morality. It contributes to this shift by explaining the Bahá'í teachings in the context of the dynamic vision of transformation that Bahá'u'lláh has come to foster in both the individual and society, emphasizing the capabilities that each person needs to develop if he or she is to participate actively and constructively in this process of dual transformation. Readers are strengthened in fulfilling their double moral purpose by learning to apply capabilities that contribute to personal transformation, improve relationships, and support social transformation, guided by the principles revealed by Bahá'u'lláh.